Social Media Icons

Friday, December 14, 2018

REVIEW: Watching You by Lisa Jewell @atriabooks @atriamysterybus @lisajewelluk

Watching You
by Lisa Jewell

Thanks so much to Atria Books and NetGalley for this free review copy!
I'm a HUGE fan of Jewell and this book just solidifies my love for her writing even more. 


Publisher: Atria Books
Publish Date: December 26, 2018
Kindle Edition
336 Pages
Standalone
Genres: Psychological Thriller, Suspense


Melville Heights is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Bristol, England; home to doctors and lawyers and old-money academics. It’s not the sort of place where people are brutally murdered in their own kitchens. But it is the sort of place where everyone has a secret. And everyone is watching you.


As the headmaster credited with turning around the local school, Tom Fitzwilliam is beloved by one and all—including Joey Mullen, his new neighbor, who quickly develops an intense infatuation with this thoroughly charming yet unavailable man. Joey thinks her crush is a secret, but Tom’s teenaged son Freddie—a prodigy with aspirations of becoming a spy for MI5—excels in observing people and has witnessed Joey behaving strangely around his father.

One of Tom’s students, Jenna Tripp, also lives on the same street, and she’s not convinced her teacher is as squeaky clean as he seems. For one thing, he has taken a particular liking to her best friend and fellow classmate, and Jenna’s mother—whose mental health has admittedly been deteriorating in recent years—is convinced that Mr. Fitzwilliam is stalking her.

Meanwhile, twenty years earlier, a schoolgirl writes in her diary, charting her doomed obsession with a handsome young English teacher named Mr. Fitzwilliam…

My Review:



If you've been reading my reviews or following me for any length of time, you already know I have a big love for Jewell.  Once again I found myself falling down the Jewell hole and into this riveting story of bullying, assumptions, secrets, attractions and how things behind closed doors are different from the public front.

Some might think that this is a slower burn of a suspense novel and while I can see that, it doesn't take away from the addictiveness in the read.  Most of the time I was completely and utterly baffled as to why this Fitzwilliam was SUCH an attraction to seemingly everyone around him.  The instance I read about the flash of torso skin that was seen and it being compared to freshly baked bread, that was it - WHAT?! Haha - but we are all attracted to different things for various reasons and who the hell am I to judge?  Clearly he had this magnetism to him that attracted those around him and kudos to him!

Jewell does such a great job in bringing all these different little nuances to the story - the background of each of the characters, their families, how they all intertwine and interact.  A character I grew to love is Freddie.  At first, I was a bit put off on the whole thing but I knew.. just KNEW.. there was something going on there and when it was brought to light, I felt this wash of understanding and just ended up adoring him.  I absolutely appreciate how Jewell worked this into the story line. I also think it was genius putting in a letter towards the end of the novel that really gives the reader an understanding of a particular character.

What did I love about this book? Well, really guys and gals, what DIDN'T I love about this book? Some things were slightly predictable but over all I was getting surprised little by little, which is always nice when reading a thriller.

Add this to your Christmas wish list - it comes out the day after and is a great way to end the year.  Take a trip to Melville and tell Joey I said hi.

★★★★★

No comments

Leave a Comment